As per White, all five bowlers will not be easy to get away with for Australia who are already without Steve Smith and David Warner.

Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch will have to share the bulk of top order's responsibilities. (Getty Image)

Allrounder Cameron White believes Australia’s batsmen will have their work cut out against India’s fiery pace attack. Virat Kohli’s India comprise five quality pacers in their squad in Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, with all of them impressive in the previous two series against England and South Africa.

As per White, all five bowlers will not be easy to get away with for Australia who are already without Steve Smith and David Warner. “I think it’s going to be tight,” White told SEN. “It’s just going to be whether we can make enough runs really. I back especially (Josh) Hazlewood and (Pat) Cummins, I think they’re superstars… it’s just going to be whether we can make enough runs.”

In their absence, the bulk of the responsibility falls on senior campaigner and captain of the limited-overs side Aaron Finch. Just two Tests old, Finch scored 62 and 49 in the first Test against Pakistan in September, and while he did look promising, White feels he will be in for some stern Test against India’s bowlers with the new ball.

“It’ll be a big challenge for him,” White said. “I think the type of bowler that India are bringing out here with (Ishant) Sharma, (Mohammed) Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar — they can all bring the ball back into the right-handed batter which is going to be a big challenge for Finch.

“It’s not so good in a match-up sense, he’ll obviously be aware of that, he’s a smart player. You don’t get to play for Australia if you’re not a good player. But I’m sure he’ll combat that and hopefully do a good job.”

With as many as three top order Australian batsmen being left-handers – Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head – White reckons the ability to move the ball away gives India a strong advantage over Australia.

“Bhuvneshwar (Kumar) very skilful, can swing the ball both ways, (Jasprit) Bumrah is under rated and quick enough and Ishant’s (Sharma) just got better and I think he was there best bowler in that England series,” White said.

“If we play quite a lot of left-handers, which looks like we’re going to do, I think they’re suited to bringing the ball into the right-handers and away from the lefties from over and around the wicket, so I think they match up well against us sadly.”

Editorial team of CricketCountry.

First Published on December 4, 2018 1:46 PM ISTLast updated on December 4, 2018 1:46 PM IST